Author: Nico Romano

The European Commission’s plan to introduce a new vehicle category for small battery-electric cars could prompt Volkswagen Group brands Audi and Škoda to accelerate development of entry-level electric models, according to media reports. The proposed category, designated M1E, would apply to passenger cars under 4.20 meters in length and is part of the Commission’s broader “Automotive Package” unveiled in December. The initiative aims to stimulate demand for affordable electric vehicles while providing regulatory flexibility on fleet emissions targets. Spanish publication La Tribuna de Automoción reported that the policy shift is reviving previously shelved plans within Volkswagen Group for additional models…

A study commissioned by BMW among 655 leasing drivers and fleet customers in the Netherlands indicates that a driving range of at least 400 kilometres has become the baseline expectation for electric company cars, with many respondents seeking even greater capability. “When asked how much range their next electric lease car should have, almost everyone in this group said at least 400 km. A third of them want more than 500 km,” BMW reported. The automaker said respondents cited the need to reduce charging frequency, maintain parity with conventional vehicles, and retain flexibility for work-related travel and vacations. See also:…

The Swiss canton of St Gallen has introduced a revised motor vehicle tax that in many cases imposes higher charges on electric vehicles than on comparable petrol cars, prompting criticism from drivers and political groups who say the reform undermines climate objectives. Under the new bonus-malus system, which took effect on Jan. 1, 2026, authorities calculate the levy based partly on vehicle weight and engine output. While the framework is intended to reward efficient models and penalise inefficient ones in a “technology-neutral” manner, the methodology has led to higher base taxes for many battery-electric vehicles because their heavy battery packs…

Fiat has introduced updates to its Topolino electric quadricycle, adding a new Corallo exterior color and a larger digital instrument cluster as the compact urban vehicle maintains its leading position in Europe’s quadricycle market. The new Corallo shade, a coral-toned finish, joins the existing Verde Vita option, expanding the model’s color palette to two choices. Fiat said the addition is intended to reinforce the vehicle’s urban lifestyle positioning. Orders for the updated Topolino opened on Feb. 13, 2026. The company has also replaced the previous 3.5-inch display with a new 5.7-inch digital cluster housed within an 8.3-inch panel area. The…

Chinese bus manufacturer Yutong said it has delivered 68 battery-electric buses to northern Italy for deployment during a major winter sports event in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo. While the company’s statement refers to a “world-class winter sports event,” the timing and location correspond with the Winter Olympic Games. Yutong is not listed as an official partner of the Games. The buses were delivered to Trentino Trasporti, which operates public transport services in the Trentino region, where several competition venues are located, including the cross-country skiing stadium in Tesero. See also: Yutong Denies Remote Control Claims Over Electric Buses After Norwegian…

Ferrari has named its first all-electric production model Luce, replacing the previously used working title “Elettrica,” and has offered new details on the vehicle’s interior and driver interface as it advances toward market launch. The company confirmed the name in a social media post while highlighting the cabin design of the Luce, which Ferrari described as introducing “a new, cross-disciplinary design language into an authentic Ferrari experience.” The interior was developed in collaboration with the San Francisco-based creative collective LoveFrom. See also: Everything You Should Know About Ferrari 849 Testarossa PHEV Specifications “Designed in close collaboration with the creative collective…

Italian motorway operator Autostrade per l’Italia has awarded E.ON Drive Infrastructure Italy three lots to build an ultra-fast electric vehicle charging network across major motorway corridors, the companies said. Under the contract, 18 motorway service areas will be equipped with a total of 104 ultra-fast charging points by the end of 2026. The sites will be located along some of Italy’s busiest east–west and north–south routes, including the A4 Turin–Trieste and A14 Bologna–Taranto motorways. Each service area will host between four and eight Alpitronic HYC400 chargers, with individual charging points delivering up to 400 kilowatts, E.ON said. The installations are…

Automotive Cells Company (ACC), the battery joint venture backed by Stellantis, Mercedes-Benz and TotalEnergies, has abandoned plans to build battery cell factories in Germany and Italy, ending projects that had been on hold for nearly a year. The decision affects proposed gigafactories in Kaiserslautern, Germany, and Termoli, Italy. Italy’s metalworkers’ union UILM said over the weekend that ACC management had informed employee representatives the two projects had been “definitively shelved.” ACC later confirmed that the conditions required to restart the projects, paused since May 2024, were unlikely to be met. ACC had originally halted work on the two sites while…

The Polestar 5 made its first public appearance on a driving circuit over the weekend, with two electric prototypes taking to the frozen track at the FAT International Ice Race in Zell am See, Austria. The appearance marked the first time the long-awaited electric grand tourer has been shown in action before a public audience. The two prototypes, each delivering a combined 650 kilowatts of output, ran on an ice-covered airfield circuit in the Austrian Alps, highlighting the model’s performance credentials under extreme winter conditions. See also: Polestar Expands Plug & Charge Access, Integrates Tesla Superchargers Across Europe One of…

Stellantis said it is recording impairments and charges totalling about €22.2 billion, largely linked to its electric vehicle business, as new chief executive Antonio Filosa moves to scale back the group’s previously ambitious electrification strategy and refocus on customer demand. Filosa, who took over as CEO in June 2025, has been reassessing targets set under former chief executive Carlos Tavares, cancelling products deemed unlikely to achieve profitable volumes. Among them is a planned battery-electric version of the Ram 1500 pickup, which Stellantis said no longer aligns with market demand or the current U.S. regulatory environment. The shift follows the expiry…

Chief executives of Europe’s two largest carmakers, Volkswagen and Stellantis, have jointly called on European Union policymakers to strengthen support for domestically produced electric vehicles as the bloc seeks to reduce its dependence on China and the United States. Volkswagen Chief Executive Oliver Blume and Stellantis executive Antonio Filosa said EU climate and industrial policy should prioritise local production and include financial incentives for battery-electric vehicles manufactured in Europe. “Every battery-electric vehicle ‘Made in Europe’ should receive a CO₂ bonus,” they said in a joint document shared with several European newspapers, including Germany’s Handelsblatt. See also: Stellantis Says Future Europe…

Hyundai Motor Group’s premium brand Genesis is entering the Italian market, extending its European expansion with a lineup of three battery-electric vehicles, the company said. Genesis will launch in Italy with the Genesis GV60, the Electrified GV70, and the Electrified G80, marking the brand’s first step into southern Europe. The move follows Genesis’ initial European debut in 2021 in Germany, the United Kingdom and Switzerland. See also: Genesis Delays GV90 Electric Flagship to Second Half of 2026 – Report The Italian rollout will be supported by what Genesis described as a “curated retail business model,” focused on selected flagship locations…